Tigerbox Touch Test: This is what the Toniebox alternative offers

Audio play box for children
Tigerbox Touch in the test: is it a good alternative to the Toniebox?

The Tigerbox starter package for children aged 4 and over is currently available on Amazon for just under 70 instead of 130 euros. (icon picture)

© star / star

They can both play radio plays and music for children, but otherwise they are quite different: Our author tested the Tigerbox Touch and explained whether it is a suitable alternative to the Toniebox.

In addition to the Toniebox, there are now a number of alternatives when it comes to radio play boxes for children. A popular variant is the Tigerbox Touch. But what distinguishes it from the Toniebox? And what can be improved? The test showed advantages and disadvantages.

Tigerbox Touch: what is it and what can it do?

The Tigerbox Touch is an 11.5 centimeter audio play box that children can use to click through the audio play world on their own. The box must first be set up by the parents, but then the little ones can operate it independently using the touch display. With a so-called “Tigerticket”, which works like a streaming subscription, young listeners have access to thousands of radio plays and songs without advertising. There are also more than 80 “Tigercards” with individual radio plays. The Tigerbox Touch is suitable for children between two and twelve years. In addition to the accessories (manual, charging cable and tips), the starter set also includes a radio play and a “Tiger Ticket” with a free month for streaming.

Visually, the box makes a very good impression: it is attractive and modern in design and not kitschy at all. The LED strips, which offer a subtle light show adapted to the audio playback, are also appealing. There is also a night light so the kids can listen comfortably in the evenings. There is knotted fabric around the box, it has a bamboo front and is otherwise kept very simple. There is a single button to turn the box on and off. My son was also enthusiastic about the display and the selection. After setting it up, he was able to work on it himself immediately. But it took a little while to get there.

The Tigerbox Touch works via "Tiger cards" or that "tiger ticket"

The Tigerbox Touch works via “Tigercards” or the “Tigerticket”

© Mareike Fangmann / star

Set up Tigerbox Touch

As with the toniebox must the Tiger box touch set up first with the help of the parents. However, it is not that easy. Because first she has to connected to the WiFi will. And it took us at least three attempts before it worked – even if the box tries to guide the user step by step: you have to download the app and connect to the WLAN and the smartphone. Once that’s done, however, the rest is self-explanatory and is then also fun for the little ones: There is music and audio books to click through and the user can already use the covers for orientation and switch back and forth very easily. You can also insert a “Tigercard” and thus make the box sound. There is also a “wild card” that you can use to play messages you’ve recorded yourself, mp3 files or stories from the “Tigertones” media library.

Setting up the Tigerbox Touch was a bit more complicated than with the Toniebox, but overall the operation is easier to understand at first glance: you know exactly where to click. With the Toniebox, you first had to get used to tilting, slapping and operating it. However, operating the Tigerbox’s touch display is not ideal for very small children.

For both providers is the parent area very helpful in the respective apps. You can make settings there: for example, to limit the volume or the playback time of the Tigerbox Touch or Toniebox. The “Tigertones” app also has cool extras, such as an advent calendar at Christmas time with jokes, stories or Christmas music.

Tigertones app

With the “Tigertones” app you can, among other things, set the listening time and volume for the little ones

© Mareike Fangmann / star

Tiger card and tiger ticket

While the Toniebox works with figures that you place on the box, with the Tigerbox you either need a card that you put in the slot provided. If the “Tigercard” is inserted into the box, the content is downloaded and stored on the device. Or you use that streaming subscription via the so-called “Tigerticket”, which can be bought for three, six or twelve months. This allows children to stream thousands of radio plays or songs – without any advertising.

The cards are not as visually appealing as the Tonies, which can also be used as pawns. But they are cheaper: they cost between around six euros and ten euros – Tonies, on the other hand, usually between around twelve and 16 euros.

sound

A big advantage of the Tigerbox Touch is its sound. It is very clear and the real wood makes for a really great sound experience. This is particularly noticeable in adults and older children and is certainly not so important for smaller children.

Advantages of the Tigerbox Touch

  • very attractive and high-quality design
  • great sound quality
  • individual radio plays are cheaper than Tonies
  • curated streaming service with only kid-friendly content and no ads
  • A wide range of music and radio plays for every taste

Disadvantages of the Tigerbox Touch

  • Streaming only against subscription, which has to be renewed again and again – but it is not mandatory and does not have to be canceled
  • not intuitive enough for small children and too “breakable”

In comparison: the Toniebox can do that

Compared to the Tigerbox Touch, the Toniebox is very soft and completely covered with a water-repellent fabric. All edges are rounded and she is with it ideal for small children, as it survives even worse falls without damage. It has two “ears”: a small one to turn down the sound and a large one to turn it up and turn on the box. The Tonies ensure that music or radio plays sound. You just place the cute figures on the small field and off you go. To fast forward or rewind, you tilt the box, with a tap you get to the next chapter or song: left back, a tap on the right lets the listener jump forward. It’s easy to play and most children really enjoy it. And collecting the figures is also fun for many children.

Tigerbox Touch vs. Toniebox: conclusion

In the end, both boxes are definitely recommended, but from my point of view, the Tiger box touch a bit ahead of the Toniebox – also because I find it so visually appealing and of high quality. My son is enthusiastic about the sound, loves to click through the selection of music and radio plays and sometimes listens to new stories or formats if the cover appeals to him. Being almost four years old, he has no problems with forwarding or fast-forwarding. But I think the Toniebox is more suitable for smaller children and I think it’s great that they can also play with the Tonies like with toy figures and collect them.

Characteristic

Tiger box touch

toniebox

Price

about 88 euros

about 80 euros

Dimensions

11.5×11.5x11cm

12x12x12cm

weight

approx. 550 g

about 600g

Colours

purple, black, green, grey, blue, red

red, green, light blue, berry, pink, grey

playback options

Tigercards (individual radio plays/songs)

Wildcards (playable cards)

Tiger ticket (streaming subscription)

Tonies (recorded figures)

Creative tonies (playable figures)

Prices Tigercards/Tonies

about six to ten euros

approx. twelve to 16 euros

battery life

about seven hours

about seven hours

Storage

8GB internal flash memory (for more than 80 radio plays)

Flash memory for approx. 400 hours of material (but nothing will be played without Tonies)

Number of audio books/songs

approx. 6000 audio books/songs in the subscription

approx. 80 tiger cards

approx. 300 Tonies

Account required

Yes

Yes

Volume and playing time limitation possible

Yes

Yes

Offline mode

Yes

Yes

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